Time to boost EU-Russia energy ties-EU's Barroso

BRUSSELS, March 9 (Reuters) The European Union should improve its energy cooperation with Russia as part of the bloc's general review of its ties with Moscow, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday.

Barroso said his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on energy issues will take place on March 17 in Moscow, about a week before the EU's 25 leaders gather to debate, among other issues, the bloc's future energy policy.

''Now is the time to rethink the future shape of EU-Russia relations and to explore all the options for a closer and more effective cooperation,'' Barroso said in a statement.

''At the heart of our relations will be a new energy partnership with Russia.'' Russia is a major energy exporter to the EU and the bloc grew worried over the stability of supplies when Moscow cut off gas supplies to Ukraine temporarily this year over failure to agree a new pricing and supply deal.

The dispute resulted in lower supplies to Europe as most Russian gas passes through pipelines crossing Ukraine.

Partly in response to the snag, the Commission, the EU executive, unveiled proposals on Wednesday to coordinate the bloc's fragmented energy policies.

The EU will have an opportunity to reshape ties with Moscow after its current 10-year partnership agreement with Russia expires next year.

REUTERS PR VC1838